Thursday, 5 May 2016

Article: Donald Trump’s Rises And Conservatism Falters, Falls?

Trump

By Emeka Chiakwelu

As liberalism and leftism grow leaps and bounds with the help of the leftist
Senator Bernie Sanders of Democratic Party, we cannot say that is applicable to
conservatism of Republican Party in the era of Donald Trump.

The presumptive GOP presidential candidate, Donald Trump has never claimed to
be grounded in conservative philosophy. Rather he always showcases his political
pragmatisms and populism which the conservative Republican grassroots
soaked and imbibed. As Trump wins the primary elections in his party with
populism and semi-conservative outlines:

Is good ol’ American conservatism losing steam and momentum? What is the future
of conservatism with Trump at helm of affairs?

Since the days of Barry Goldwater and President Ronald Reagan, conservatives
have managed to silence moderates in Republican Party while ideology of
rightism has been identified as the gospel of GOP. Any serious candidate who
aspires for GOP presidential nomination must make sure that his conservative
credential is impeccable, credible and unquestionable.

But after two terms of President Obama, it is beginning to appear that majority
of conservative voters have decided to forget or eclipse their old standing
conservative values for a Whitehouse victory. With anything or anybody for
victory, they are willing to trade and bend their values for the defeat of Obama and Hillary Clinton’s Democratic Party. This is how
Trump emerged because the yearning desire for victory has come to supersede
their right-wing leanings.

Sometime it is difficult to distinguish between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
When the later speaks on trade and foreign policy, he echoed same values and
proposals like Trump. Senator Sanders standing on trade is not a surprise
because the left has been known for not being wholly acceptable of free trade.

The left inclination to hinder free trade for protection of working class jobs
have always been their currency of international commerce negotiation. But that
cannot be said of GOP that holds the view that open and free trade is good for
everybody.

Republican Party standing on comparative advantage of nation is unquestionable
for with fewer tariffs and more trade, nations become richer, closer and their
diplomatic relationship solidify and consolidate. While Democratic Party seems
to uphold that trade protectionism and higher tariffs on foreign goods are tools to build a bulwark against dumping and safeguarding
home jobs from moving to nations where lax environmental regulations and cheap
labor are ubiquitous.

On foreign policy, Trump is not comfortable with old alliances that America invested heavily with sweat and money like NATO. He rather questions its benefit at the end of cold war. This makes him sound more
like a left winger than a Republican right-centric that believes in building and spending money on foreign alliances like NATO.

So what is the future of conservatism? The answer lies in the future, only
time will tell. But one thing for sure, this is not the best of time for
conservative principles. But it is pre-mature to declare its defeat. Not yet,
as Great Chinua Achebe used to say, “It is still a morning time
in creation.”